Eight killed on Ohio roads over holiday

Thursday

Eight people lost their lives on Ohio roadways during this year’s abbreviated Fourth of July holiday period, according to the State Highway Patrol.

With July 4 falling on a Wednesday this year, the State Highway Patrol considered only Tuesday and Wednesday to be the July 4 holiday reporting period, said Sgt. Tiffany Meeks of the patrol.

By comparison last year, the State Highway Patrol counted five days — June 30 to July 4 — to be the July 4 holiday period. There were 21 deaths in Ohio over those five days in 2017.

Columbus police continue to investigate the fatal crash that killed a man and a woman when their vehicle slammed into a light pole along westbound Interstate 270 near the Sawmill Road exit before 5 p.m. on Wednesday. The names of the two victims have not been released yet by police.

Troopers made 296 arrests for impaired driving and 276 for drug-related charges during this year’s two-day holiday period. The patrol responded to 297 crashes and made nearly 19,000 traffic contacts in total, which included assisting more than 2,000 motorists.

During holiday weekends, more troopers are assigned to patrol and they are on the lookout for impaired drivers. It is believed that one of the eight fatalities statewide involved an impaired driver, the patrol said.

In 2017, eight of the traffic deaths — more than a third of the 21 holiday period fatalities — were connected to impaired driving, the patrol said.

“When someone chooses to drive impaired the consequences can be deadly,” said Colonel Paul A. Pride, Patrol superintendent. “That’s why troopers make OVI enforcement a priority, whether they’re patrolling during a holiday weekend or any time of day. Motorists should always pre-plan a sober way home.”

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